Plant and Share Month Toolkit

Plant and Share returns for 2024 to help inspire the nation to get growing, together. With four key themes to explore: Growing for All, Growing for Joy, Growing to Eat and Growing for Nature, each week has resources and tips to get your growing activities off the ground.

Register your growing activity here.

Week One: Growing for All 

1st - 7th April

Plant and Share is about ensuring that growing your own food is as easy and accessible for everyone, from first time growers to community organisers, whether you're growing in an outdoor space, or windowsill, we've got you covered.

  1. Get your garden ready

    As the buds on trees begin to appear and birds find their song again, it’s a wonderful time to get outside and warm up your green fingers. We’ll guide you through some handy tips to help everyone get growing this spring.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Get your garden ready
  2. All about seed swaps

    Seed swaps are events that bring people together to exchange seeds, promote food growing and gardening.

    Grow your planting knowledge at a Seed Swap

    Read More Translation.Word.About All about seed swaps
  3. Urban gardening

    Urban green spaces are vital to our shared ecosystem and when you live in towns and cities little patches of green, some shady trees or a flower bed can have real value.

    This resource will guide you through why urban green spaces are so important, some top tips on how to get started and much more.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Urban gardening
  4. Growing for a happy home

    Enjoying nature and getting involved in growing doesn’t have to mean stepping outside or having access to lots of space. Find out how to get closer to nature using the space you have in this resource.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Growing for a happy home
  5. Intergenerational gardening

    Intergenerational activities are about far more than bringing older and younger people together in a place, it is about meaningful connections, combating loneliness and sharing skills.

    Learn more about intergenerational gardening, as well as Grandparent Gardening Week, here.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Intergenerational gardening
  6. A beginners guide to growing

    The joy of smelling a flower you have grown from a bulb ortasting a tomato you have grown from a seed is amazing, but getting set up to start growing can feel expensive.

    In this resource you’ll pick up some quick tips and ideas for growing on a budget, no matter what size space you have.

    Read More Translation.Word.About A beginners guide to growing
  7. Three steps to growing

    If you are looking for a quick, simple and easy to follow growing activity ideal for young children, community groups or those new to gardening then this is a great resource.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Three steps to growing
  8. gardening_tools

    Get growing

    If you are interested in organising or supporting community growing activities, here is some guidance on where to grow, tools and safety, simple activities to demonstrate to groups or seasonality to link your growing to Get Together events.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Get growing
  9. Plant and Share's jargon buster

    This resource explains some of the common gardening terms that you often find on a packet of seeds or in growing instructions.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Plant and Share's jargon buster

Week 2: Growing to Eat

8th - 14th April

With rising food costs, growing herbs, fruit and vegetables can be a simple and fun way to enjoy good food. From growing tomatoes on your windowsill, or strawberries in an old container, we've got a host of great resources to help. 

  1. Grow your own pea shoots

    Pea shoots are delicious raw or cooked. They're can be grown indoors all year round in just a few days, or outdoors in the spring and summer.

    This resource will help you create a growing activity for all ages.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Grow your own pea shoots
  2. Crazy for cress

    Grow cress for a tasty egg and cress sandwich.

    Discover this quick and easy cress recipe that you can grow and enjoy from your own home.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Crazy for cress
  3. Grow your own pea and mint soup

    This bumper resource is perfect for a classroom, after school club or community group of any age. You’ll learn all you need to grow and cook peas and mint for a tasty summery soup. 

    Read More Translation.Word.About Grow your own pea and mint soup
  4. Growing potatoes in a bag

    This growing resource is a step-by-step guide to get you growing potatoes. Everyone loves a potato and has their own favourite way to eat them.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Growing potatoes in a bag
  5. Strawberry wellies

    Get creative and turn an old welly boot into a pot bursting with fruit! The activity sheet guides organisers through preparation and ensures inclusion for all generations.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Strawberry wellies
  6. Grow some bee-friendly herbs

    Herbs are great for attracting bees and insects and provide fantastic, sensory activities for community members of all ages. This resource guides groups to plant their own herbs, with bonus activities to get groups talking, tasting and generally enjoying herbs.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Grow some bee-friendly herbs
  7. Grow your own chillies

    As well as being a tasty addition to lots of dishes, chillies have a long season and benefit from lots of time to grow and ripen. Grow your own and enjoy fresh chillies throughout summer and into winter with the help of freezing, drying and pickling.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Grow your own chillies
  8. Microgreen magic

    Discover a world of cheap, tasty and nutritious flavours with microgreen magic!

    Read More Translation.Word.About Microgreen magic

Week 3: Growing for Joy

15th - 21st April

Getting out in the garden can do wonders for your wellbeing. Whether it's growing beautiful plants to bring colour and wildlife to your backyard or vegetable patch, getting crafty in the garden, or simply nurturing a plant through it's lifecycle, there is an abundance of positives to getting growing and reconnected to nature's rhythms.

  1. Companion planting – growing in harmony

    Using companion planting helps protect your garden, pots or balcony plants from pests, whilst being kind to the soil, waterways, and animals by being pesticide free.

    In this resource, we explain what companion planting is and guide you through how to match plants to support climate and nature.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Companion planting – growing in harmony
  2. How to organise a community event

    Plant and Share provides a month-long opportunity to come together in your community and get people involved in gardening.

    This resource helps anyone who is setting-up a community event for the first time or wants to refresh what they are doing.

    Read More Translation.Word.About How to organise a community event
  3. The additional benefits of gardening

    Whether you’re just getting started or have plenty of experience growing, sowing seeds and nurturing plants has a massive range of benefits. Find out more in this resource.

    You don’t have to be outside to grow

    Read More Translation.Word.About The additional benefits of gardening
  4. Garden crafts

    We’ve put together a list of activities which can help you get a bit crafty with growing, so get stuck in and don’t forget to share your creations with us!

    Read More Translation.Word.About Garden crafts

Week 4: Growing for Nature

22nd - 30th April

Bees, bugs and other wildlife are nature's superheroes, helping produce the food we eat. Planting some nature-friendly plants is a great way to do your bit for these mighty guardians of growing. 

 

  1. All about our precious pollinators

    Bees are much loved and appreciated - and rightly so.

    But did you know there are other pollinators who deserve just as much praise? Discover them here.

    Read More Translation.Word.About All about our precious pollinators
  2. Buzzing about bees

    In this resource, we will learn all about the different common species of bee in the UK, some of the jobs they have in our natural world, and some simple things we can do to help them carry out their important role in the biodiversity of our planet.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Buzzing about bees
  3. How to identify bees

    Did you know that there are over 250 different species of bee
    in the UK alone? Learn about the most common UK species then organise a bee identification session as part of Plant and Share Month

    Read More Translation.Word.About How to identify bees
  4. Bee kind

    Many bee species are in decline due to climate change, habitat loss,
    invasive species and pesticide use.

    But there is a lot we can do! Here are some of the practical ways you can help the bees where you live.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Bee kind
  5. Grow for nature and climate

    Be inspired and try out some of these ideas to make your garden or outdoor space nature-friendly.

    Discover great ideas in this resource.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Grow for nature and climate
  6. Build a bug hotel

    Create some bug hotels for your school, community garden or club and help everyone learn about pollinators (bees, bugs and butterflies), which are nature's heroes. Use things that you can find in the garden along with some bean or tomato tins and some readily accessible tools.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Build a bug hotel
  7. Become a soil scientist

    Soil is vital to life on Earth. 95% of the food we eat comes from soil, and it’s home to a quarter of the Earth’s species. Learn more and discover how to identify different types of soil in this activity pack.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Become a soil scientist
  8. Create your own compost

    Composting in a great way to use your garden or kitchen waste to help grow healthy plants and keep costs down in the garden. Create your own with this guide.

    Read More Translation.Word.About Create your own compost
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